Charter Schools Annual Conference Features Thomas Bloch, Job Fair
Former H&R Block CEO Thomas Bloch will join more than 400 charter school advocates -- including teachers, administrators, board members and policy makers -- from throughout Georgia next week at the seventh annual Georgia Charter Schools Conference, sponsored by the Georgia Charter Schools Association (GCSA), Feb. 25-27, at the Hilton Hotel & Conference Center in Marietta.
Atlanta, GA, February 19, 2009 --(PR.com)-- Former CEO of H&R Block, who left the firm to start a charter school, will be one keynote speaker.
Former H&R Block CEO Thomas Bloch will join more than 400 charter school advocates – including teachers, administrators, board members and policy makers – from throughout Georgia next week at the seventh annual Georgia Charter Schools Conference, sponsored by the Georgia Charter Schools Association (GCSA), Feb. 25-27, at the Hilton Hotel & Conference Center in Marietta (500 Powder Springs St.).
Bloch, Job Fair highlight Conference
The annual conference is the only statewide meeting of the entire charter school community in Georgia. The theme for this year’s conference is “Georgia: Our Time to Shine.” It will feature 30 breakout sessions covering topics such as “Professional Development and School Leadership,” “Student Learning, Performance and Accountability” and “Weathering the Financial Crisis.”
The Conference will get underway on Day One (Feb. 25) with a Job Fair, from 4 to 7:30 p.m. Participating schools will be looking for certified or provisionally certified educators only.
Day Two (Feb. 26) of the Conference features two of the most engaging speakers in the field of education. The morning session keynote speaker will be Howard Fuller, Ph. D., board chair of the Black Alliance for Educational Options (BAEO) and an outspoken advocate for educational reform.
In the evening, a special dinner event will feature Thomas Bloch, co-founder and middle school math teacher at University Academy Charter School in Kansas City. In the first half of his professional life he was wildly successful as the CEO of H&R Block, the world’s largest tax services provider. But in 1995 he resigned to fulfill his lifelong dream of being a teacher. Five years later, he started University Academy Charter, which now has more than 1,000 students in kindergarten through 12th grade.
Charter school movement growing in Georgia, nationwide
The popularity of charter schools – public schools of choice which operate with freedom from many of the rules and regulations of traditional public schools – is growing nationwide and in Georgia as well.
· The number of charter schools in Georgia has skyrocketed from 48 in the 2005-06 school year to 113 in 2008-09.
· The number of Georgia students enrolled in charter schools has grown from 21,100 in 2005-06 to 33,230 in 2008-09.
· Nationally, there are nearly 1.3 million students attending 4,300 charter schools in 40 states and the District of Columbia.
· President Barack Obama has expressed support for the charter school concept. One of his first events away from the White House was a visit to Capitol City Public Charter School in Washington, where he read to students and was joined by First Lady Michelle Obama and Education Secretary Arne Duncan.
GCSA Chief Executive Officer Tony Roberts, Ph.D., said charter schools continue to grow in popularity in spite of the state of the economy in Georgia and throughout the country.
“The funding and facilities issues that have always plagued charter schools are magnified because of the economic downturn,” Roberts said. “But providing our children with quality educational options remains paramount, here in Georgia and across the nation.
“And so the GCSA will continue to support and cultivate the charter school movement with programs and events like the annual Conference,” Roberts said. “The goal is to provide those involved in Georgia’s charter community with an opportunity for networking, learning and inspiration.”
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About The GCSA
The Georgia Charter Schools Association is the nonprofit membership organization for Georgia’s charter school operators and petitioners, established in 2001. The mission of the GCSA is to be an effective advocate and service provider for all charter public schools in Georgia by:
· Advancing awareness of charter schools and their mission.
· Increasing awareness that charter schools are public schools.
· Communicating charter school needs to state and local officials.
· Supporting legislation to strengthen charter schools in Georgia.
· Facilitating opportunities for networking/collaboration among charter schools in Georgia and nationwide.
· Developing and implementing programs and services that advance student achievement, accountability and success in all of Georgia’s charter schools.
Former H&R Block CEO Thomas Bloch will join more than 400 charter school advocates – including teachers, administrators, board members and policy makers – from throughout Georgia next week at the seventh annual Georgia Charter Schools Conference, sponsored by the Georgia Charter Schools Association (GCSA), Feb. 25-27, at the Hilton Hotel & Conference Center in Marietta (500 Powder Springs St.).
Bloch, Job Fair highlight Conference
The annual conference is the only statewide meeting of the entire charter school community in Georgia. The theme for this year’s conference is “Georgia: Our Time to Shine.” It will feature 30 breakout sessions covering topics such as “Professional Development and School Leadership,” “Student Learning, Performance and Accountability” and “Weathering the Financial Crisis.”
The Conference will get underway on Day One (Feb. 25) with a Job Fair, from 4 to 7:30 p.m. Participating schools will be looking for certified or provisionally certified educators only.
Day Two (Feb. 26) of the Conference features two of the most engaging speakers in the field of education. The morning session keynote speaker will be Howard Fuller, Ph. D., board chair of the Black Alliance for Educational Options (BAEO) and an outspoken advocate for educational reform.
In the evening, a special dinner event will feature Thomas Bloch, co-founder and middle school math teacher at University Academy Charter School in Kansas City. In the first half of his professional life he was wildly successful as the CEO of H&R Block, the world’s largest tax services provider. But in 1995 he resigned to fulfill his lifelong dream of being a teacher. Five years later, he started University Academy Charter, which now has more than 1,000 students in kindergarten through 12th grade.
Charter school movement growing in Georgia, nationwide
The popularity of charter schools – public schools of choice which operate with freedom from many of the rules and regulations of traditional public schools – is growing nationwide and in Georgia as well.
· The number of charter schools in Georgia has skyrocketed from 48 in the 2005-06 school year to 113 in 2008-09.
· The number of Georgia students enrolled in charter schools has grown from 21,100 in 2005-06 to 33,230 in 2008-09.
· Nationally, there are nearly 1.3 million students attending 4,300 charter schools in 40 states and the District of Columbia.
· President Barack Obama has expressed support for the charter school concept. One of his first events away from the White House was a visit to Capitol City Public Charter School in Washington, where he read to students and was joined by First Lady Michelle Obama and Education Secretary Arne Duncan.
GCSA Chief Executive Officer Tony Roberts, Ph.D., said charter schools continue to grow in popularity in spite of the state of the economy in Georgia and throughout the country.
“The funding and facilities issues that have always plagued charter schools are magnified because of the economic downturn,” Roberts said. “But providing our children with quality educational options remains paramount, here in Georgia and across the nation.
“And so the GCSA will continue to support and cultivate the charter school movement with programs and events like the annual Conference,” Roberts said. “The goal is to provide those involved in Georgia’s charter community with an opportunity for networking, learning and inspiration.”
###
About The GCSA
The Georgia Charter Schools Association is the nonprofit membership organization for Georgia’s charter school operators and petitioners, established in 2001. The mission of the GCSA is to be an effective advocate and service provider for all charter public schools in Georgia by:
· Advancing awareness of charter schools and their mission.
· Increasing awareness that charter schools are public schools.
· Communicating charter school needs to state and local officials.
· Supporting legislation to strengthen charter schools in Georgia.
· Facilitating opportunities for networking/collaboration among charter schools in Georgia and nationwide.
· Developing and implementing programs and services that advance student achievement, accountability and success in all of Georgia’s charter schools.
Contact
Georgia Charter Schools Association
Seth Coleman
404-835-8917
www.gacharters.org
Seth Coleman
404-835-8917
www.gacharters.org
Contact
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